Semester

Fall

Date of Graduation

2000

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

School of Pharmacy

Department

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Committee Chair

David P. Nau.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine how West Virginian's perceive and use complementary medicine. The first objective was to determine the frequency of respondents who had used at least one complementary therapy in the last year. The second objective was to determine the most commonly used complementary therapies among respondents. The third objective was to examine the demographic characteristics of respondents who used complementary therapies. The fourth objective was to determine if certain types of medical problems led to complementary medicine use among respondents. The fifth objective was to show the percentage of users who informed their physician of complementary medicine use. The sixth objective was to determine the respondent's perceptions of the safety and effectiveness of complementary medicine. The last objective was to see if respondents' perceived health status played a role in complementary medicine use.;Data were collected over a two and a half-month time period from July to October 2000. The sample consisted of 1200 West Virginians selected from eight counties located in the state. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

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